Football

CIAA Preview Week Six                                                          
September 27, 2006                                                                   

CIAA Football Season goes full tilt this weekend as conference play opens in earnest. The much awaited rematch between North Carolina Central and Bowie State highlights the weekend. Also, Elizabeth City State travels to St. Augustine’s in an important interdivisional contest. Johnson C. Smith looks to stay in the Western Division race with a win at St. Paul’s. Fayetteville State (0-2) in CIAA play must win at Virginia State to resuscitate their hopes of winning the Western Division.

GAME OF THE WEEK: NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL AT BOWIE STATE: At the beginning of the season this contest loomed as the CIAA’s Game of the Year. However, Bowie State’s loss to Livingstone has taken some luster off this weekend’s CIAA Championship Game Rematch. North Carolina Central has clearly held up their end of the bargain. The Eagles have flown out to a 4-0 start including last weekend’s win over SWAC contender Southern. The Eagles entered the ‘06 season with a reputation of an offensive juggernaut. However, defensively NCCU has given up only 12 points per contest including a shutout of perennial power Albany State. QB Stafford Brown, who took over for ‘05 starter Adrian Warren, has played well. Brown has accounted for seven touchdowns through the air, and only two interceptions. Receivers Charles Futrell and Julius McClellan have been outstanding weapons for Brown. Greg Pruitt also looks to have a breakout game this season as well. Bowie State was shocked last weekend by then-winless Livingstone. QB Lamar Manigo, knocked out of last weekend’s contest, is out this weekend and Bowie must search for offensive leaders. This is the Prince George’s Classic. (2:00 p.m. at Bowie, MD).

Players to watch: North Carolina Central: Greg Peterson, DL; Craig Amos, DB; Courtney Coard, DL.
Bowie State: Nathaniel Queen, RB; Terrence Stafford, DL; Miguel Dean, DB.


ELIZABETH CITY STATE AT ST. AUGUSTINE’S: ECSU’s 49-33 loss to Newberry was tough to swallow, but there is no time for the Vikings to lick their wounds. St. Augustine’s will be waiting in the wings after suffering two close losses to Carson-Newman and Mars Hill. The Falcons, already 0-1 in the CIAA, cannot afford another loss in the league before hosting North Carolina Central next weekend. Elizabeth City State QB Curtis Rich has been more than impressive. Rich has thrown ten touchdowns and just one interception. St. Augustine’s has been stout defensively but has struggled offensively. Kevin Jones leads the Falcons’ impressive defensive team. ECSU looks to remain atop the Eastern Division standings with a win. (1:30 p.m. at Raleigh, NC).

Players to watch: Elizabeth City State: Curtis Rich, QB; Dwight Richardson, DB; Greg Moore, DL.
St. Augustine’s: Kevin Jones, LB; Alex Hall, DL; Brandon Franklin, QB.


JOHNSON C. SMITH AT ST. PAUL’S: The Golden Bulls pulled out an important road win at Virginia Union last Saturday. The win gives JCSU a 3-1 mark and evened their conference record at 1-1. QB Carl Richardson and WR Marquis Belton have become one of the conference’s best pass-catch combinations. St. Pauls’ pulled off an exciting and important win at Fayetteville State. The Tigers stand atop the Eastern Division standings and look to put a hold on the East by knocking off the Golden Bulls. QB Demetrius Brown played well at Fayetteville State and will need to remain consistent against the much-improved Golden Bull Defense. (1:30 p.m. at Lawrenceville, VA).

Players to watch: Johnson C. Smith: Carl Richardson, QB; Marquis Belton, WR; De’Audra Dix, DB.
St. Paul’s: Demetrius Brown, QB; Lonie Sanders, WR; Terrance Peterkin, DB.


FAYETTEVILLE STATE AT VIRGINIA STATE: The Broncos lost a last minute heartbreaker to St. Paul’s last weekend and the once powerful FSU sits now on the brink of conference elimination. Turnovers have plagued FSU and their once powerful defense has been somewhat samaritan this season. Virginia State has had close calls against St. Augustine’s and Carson-Newman but did not come out with victories. The winless Trojans must win its homecoming if they want to keep up with ECSU and St. Paul’s in the East. (1:30 p.m. at Petersburg).

Players to watch: Fayetteville State: Jay Autry, QB; Nick Green, RB; Geron Harper, LB.
Virginia State: Michael Terry, QB; Davian Richards, WR; Anthony Hailstock, DB.


SHAW AT LIVINGSTONE: Livingstone pulled off the upset of the year in the CIAA by knocking off CIAA favorite Bowie State. The Blue Bears nearly shutout Bowie State, holding the Bulldogs to only a field goal. The vaunted Bowie State running game was shutdown without QB Lamar Manigo on hand to handle signal calling. Defensively, the Blue Bears will have to shutdown the spread offense of Shaw and QB Jermonty Kimbrough. Shaw will have to rebound from last weekend’s tough loss at Maine. In order to get back into the CIAA race, the Bears will have to get their offense back on track. (6:00 p.m. at Salisbury).

Players to watch: Shaw: Jermonty Kimbrough, QB; Damon Harrison, WR; Reginald Price, RB.
Livingstone: Jason Mitchell, QB; Alvin Hudson, LB; Tyrone Baisden, WR.


VIRGINIA UNION AT CENTRAL STATE (OH): The Panthers took a difficult five overtime loss to JCSU last weekend. The Panthers will travel this weekend to Central State to take on the Marauders. QB Lamar Little has thrown ten touchdowns and will look to keep the Panthers rolling offensively. (1:00 p.m. at Wilberforce, OH).

Players to watch: Virginia Union: Lamar Little, QB; Michael Hampton, WR; Chad Talley, P.